Ken Kelash

Ken Kelash
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 63rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2009
Preceded by Dan Larson
Personal details
Born May 8, 1952
Political party Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s) Elaine
Children 2; Katrina and Martha
Residence Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alma mater Hennepin Technical Center
Metropolitan State University
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Occupation carpenter, union officer, business agent, legislator

Kenneth "Ken" Kelash (born May 8, 1952) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 63, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Senate in a special election held on November 4, 2008.[1] The seat became vacant when Senator Dan Larson resigned in order to accept a position with his former employer, a law and lobbying firm in Minneapolis.[2] He was re-elected in 2010.[3]

Kelash is currently a member of the Senate's Agriculture and Rural Economies, Environment and Natural Resources, and Jobs and Economic Growth committees.[4] His special legislative concerns include jobs, education, and transportation.[1]

Kelash is a retired carpenter, union officer and regional business agent. He has been a member of the Carpenter's Local Union #1644 since 1976, and has been active in the Minnesota Building Trades Union, the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, and the Minnesota AFL-CIO.[5] He has served on the Minneapolis Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and the Hennepin County Workforce Investment Board, which direct federal and state money into jobs and training programs. He has also been a member of the Policy Board of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) for more than 10 years.[1][5]

Kelash attended the carpentry program at Hennepin Technical Center, graduating in 1974. He received his B.A. from Metropolitan State University in 1984. In 2003, he earned his M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, made possible by a Bush Leadership Fellowship, which he was awarded in 2002.[1][5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Kelash, Kenneth". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. ↑ "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Larson, Dan". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. ↑ http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=63
  4. ↑ "Senator Kenneth S. Kelash DFL District 63". Senate.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Ken Kelash for Minnesota State Senate". Kelash.org. Retrieved 2010-07-20.

External links